Wire-wheel rim and method of making same



F. R. KLAUS.

WIRE WHEEL RIM AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILE D JUNE 9, I919.

Patented July 5, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THE HYDRAULIC PRESSED OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WIRE WHEEL RIM AND METHOD OF MAKING- SAME.

Original application filed January 9, 1919, Serial No. 1919. Serial T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED R. KLAUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuya-hoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in .Wire-IVheel Rims and Methods of Making Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to rims o1 fellies for wire wheels and more particularly to the method of making the same; this application being a divisional portion of my application filed January 9, 1919, Serial No. 270,371.

Heretofore it has been usual to roll the sheet metal felly. or rim and shape the same into true circular form, and then by means of suitable punches and dies, to provide the requisite number of radially inwardly eX-' tending sockets intended to receive the head, nipple, or thimble' of the wire spoke.

In producing these sockets, great difficulties have arisen, and it frequently happens that, in shaping such depressions or sockets, a zone of wealmess has been created, usually at the outer edge thereof, and in many instances an actual break has occurred at this point, due to the fact that the metal is stretched to the greatest extent at these points during the socket forming operation, and it frequently happens that although the actual weakness is not apparent to the eye, it becomes apparent when the socket is bored to receive the wire spoke, and even if the existing weakness does not become apparent at this time, it frequently shows up very soon after the wheel has been used and subjected to tension, and in nearly all instances where a rim weakness has developed, it has been at the marginal edge of the spoke socket, due as before stated to the weakening of the metal at this point. In other words, the metal which is depressed or punched inwardly to provide the spoke socket is unevenly distributed.

Another defect of the rim or felly as at present constructed is that, owing to the uneven stretching or distribution of metal, the edges of the spoke socket are not sharp and uniform.

These defects or points of weakness above outlined result in discarding of a large num- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

270,371. Divided and.

this application filed June No. 302,867.

ber of sheet metal rims or fellies in the manufacture of wire Wheels and it is with the ob ect of overcoming these defects or objections that the present method has been devised, and broadly speaking the invention consists in producing spoke sockets in such a manner that the metal pressed from the rim proper to provide said socket, will be evenly distributed duringthe pressing formation, thereby avoiding points of weakness and producing uniform sharp edges at the unQ-ture of the socket and rim proper.

I The invention also consists in producing in the rim, a socket or depression and in producing a counter-depression in said socket whereby the metal is evenly distributed during the formation of said socket.

The invention consists also in certain detalls hereinafter fully described and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a view showing the cross section of a sheet metal felly or rim before the spoke sockets are punched therein; Fig. 2 is a view showing the method of and means for punching the spoke sockets; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View of the completed sheet metal felly or rim.

In carrying out my invention, I first shape the sheet metal rim or felly A into true circular form, and although I have illustrated a rim of the Q. I). type, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to all types of rims to which wire spokes B are to be connected. Inthe circular sheet metal felly or rim, I produce at regular intervals the sockets or depressions C which receive the heads, thimbles or nipples of the wire spokes, and these sockets or depressions can be made all at one time, or separately as preferred.

In the shaping or forming of these sockets or depressions, I employ a punch D which engages the outer face of the felly or rim; and a die E with which the inner face of the felly or rim is brought into engagement and it will be noted that the end of the punch is curved to correspond with the concavity of the socket or depression to be produced, and it will also be noted that the die E has an outwardly projecting portion F arranged at the center thereof, preferably conical in form to produce a counter-depression G in the convex side of the socket; and the height and width of this portion F. will be determined by the size and shape of the counterdepression desired. j

By means of the punch and die constructed as herein shown and described, it has been found that when a socket or depression is produced in the rim,the convex metal at v the center of the socket orr'depression encountering the projection F within the die,;

punctures the metal at that point andpermits an even or uniform distribution of the metal in the shaping of all the other portions of the depressions. In other words, by producing a counter-depression 7 G in the I opening is always made at the center of the 7 spoke socket irrespective of the inclination of the opening-it being understood that inasmuch as some wire spokes areinclined inwardly, some outwardly, and some straight, it-will be necessary to bore the holes according to the line of direction which the spoke to be arranged therein is to assume, and in all instancesthe boring of the socket would be through the center regardless of the lines of direction, and as before stated, thearrangement of the counter-depression G at the center of theconvexed side of the socket will in no. way interfere with the boring of the hole but on the other hand will lend itself to such operation.

Itwill'thus be seen that by putting the counter-depression into the convex 'endof theradial socketdepression of therim, there isno tearing or distorting of the metal at the edge of said socket or depression, but'on the other hand the sharp uniform edge is produced and furthermore the spoke socket on depression itself is of uniform thickness ex ceptat the point of counter-depression.

Having thus described my-"invention, what 'I claim isi i '1, A wire wheel rim ofspoke sockets each socket having a counter depression in the convex sidethereof. (v

2. A-.wire wheel rim having a plurality of inwardly projecting spoke sockets, each socket having a central counter depression 7 in theconvex side thereof. 7

3. In a wire wheel, a rim having-aphirality of inwardly extending vcup-like depressions, each one of which has upon the convex side thereof a central counter-depression extending part way therethrough.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix'my signature. l a

FRED-R. KLAUS.

having a plurality 7 

